Coming from a family that had a rare dedication to the sport of judo, David Camarillo was practically raised on grappling mats. His father, Jim, was the founder and head of the Bakersfield, Calif.-based South Valley Judo Club, and for David and his older brother, Dan, training in judo was not a choice, but a way of life. Through South Valley Judo, Jim Camarillo trained many junior national and national champion judokas, and the demanding training regiment he set for his sons laid the foundation for their uniquely successful careers in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Dave received his black belt in Jiu-Jitsu from a member of the legendary Gracie family. Since then he has gone on his own and created some of the most innovative techniques the sport has ever seen. He has masterfully blended both arts Judo and Jiu-Jitsu and created a system that encompasses that transition.

Dave is one of the most, if not the most, experienced Jiu-Jitsu instructors on the planet. His years of Judo and Jiu-Jitsu training has seen him learn from legends such as, Mike Swain (US Olympic medalists, Judo), Flavio Canto (Brazil, Olympic medalists, Judo), Rickson Gracie (the most decorated of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family), BJ Penn (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Multiple Times Ultimate Fighting Champion), Marcelo Garcia (Multiple BJJ and Ahbu Dahbi Champion, Pound for pound best BJJ artist in the World!). He has also trained some of the most accomplished UFC fighters currently in the game, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, Cain Valesquez and Strikeforce MMA Champions, Josh Thomson and Bobby Southworth.

It is rare to find someone who has so many levels of experience in the Martial Arts game. There is no equal to be found in terms of how in depth his level of understanding goes. MMAinstructional is proud to have Dave as a resident instructor!

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